Several nationality verification requests pending with Bangladesh, says MEA amid BGB-BSF row

A day after the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) claimed that it has “thwarted” 10 alleged “illegal” push in by the Border Security Force (BSF) along several locations of the India-Bangladesh border, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (June 5) stated that it follows a structured bilateral mechanism about deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals adding that several pending nationality verification requests were pending with the Bangladeshi authorities.

India reiterates deportation process

Speaking to reporters, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made it clear that India maintains a stringent stand with regard to cross-border illegal migration.

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"As I have told you before also, all foreign nationals in India, if they are here illegally, including those from Bangladesh, we have laws to deal with them, and they'll be dealt with accordingly,” said Jaiswal.

"As far as the deportation of these people is concerned, there is a bilateral mechanism in place. Once we refer these cases to the Bangladeshi side for them to verify the nationality of these people, and once it is verified, then we take forward the deportation process," he added as quoted by ANI.

‘Several verification requests pending’

Jaiswal said that the government was hopeful that Bangladesh would expedite the process of clearing the pending nationality verification requests.

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"We have several or many of these requests which are still pending with the Bangladeshi side, and we hope and expect that they'll be expedited as soon as possible so that the deportation of people who are illegally staying in India can be taken forward smoothly and efficiently," he said.

On Thursday, the BGB claimed that it had foiled 10 alleged attempts by the BSF to push individuals into Bangladeshi territory through different points along the border during the previous 24 hours.

BGB cites border incidents

The BGB said in a statement that a number of tense situations were reported in districts such as Jhenaidah, Jessore and Panchagarh. The BGB claimed that its personnel intervened in multiple locations to prevent what it described as unauthorised cross-border movement.

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One of the incidents cited by the force occurred in the Samanta border area of Jhenaidah, where BGB officials alleged that BSF personnel tried to bring 30 to 35 people across the frontier using a prison van. The attempt, it claimed, was unsuccessful after BGB patrol teams and residents objected and resisted the move.

The statement also referred to gatherings of individuals near border stretches in Joypurhat and Netrokona, prompting heightened monitoring by Bangladeshi authorities. The force said surveillance measures, intelligence collection and patrol operations had been strengthened in response to the situation.

Warning against push-in attempts

"BGB unequivocally states that no individual or group will be allowed to enter Bangladesh illegally through the border. Any push-in attempt violating international border management, existing laws, and bilateral understandings will be strictly resisted. BGB's intelligence surveillance, patrolling, and operational activities have been intensified across the borders. BGB remains firmly committed to protecting the sovereignty and border security of the country and is fully prepared to tackle any situation,” stated the BGB.